Dear County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and School Principals:

California Green Ribbon Schools Recognition Program Request for Applications 2021–22

The California Department of Education (CDE) is pleased to announce application availability for the ninth cycle of our California Green Ribbon Schools (CA-GRS) recognition program. The purpose of this program is to honor excellence in whole-school sustainability while spotlighting replicable best practices.

Green schools promote environmental stewardship and provide students with high-quality learning environments that engage and support the whole child. In the return to in-person instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic, green schools model best practices that promote health and safety, especially in the areas of indoor air quality and outdoor learning.

Since the CA-GRS recognition program began in 2014, the CDE has recognized 88 public schools, 30 school districts, and one County Office of Education across the state for helping California lead the way in whole-school sustainability. Join these leaders by pursuing recognition for your school, district, or county office this school year.

Eligible award recipients include school districts, county offices of education, kindergarten through grade twelve public and private schools, and early education centers. Interested parties may request an electronic application and review program information on the CDE Green Ribbon Schools Award Program web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/fa/sf/greenribbonprog.asp. While CA-GRS awards are not limited in number, five honorees will earn a nomination for additional recognition by the Secretary of Education as U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools and District Sustainability Award winners.

If you have any questions regarding this subject, please contact the California Green Ribbon Schools team by email at greenribbonschools@cde.ca.gov.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction